Premier League Stats: Key Stats & Suggested Bet for Every Match in Gameweek 1

It probably feels like yesterday that last season ended to a few Chelsea players, but the new campaign returns on Friday night as champions Liverpool host Bournemouth. 

In a brand new Betfred Insights column for the 25/26 season, Dan Thomas picks out key stats for each EPL game and a related betting suggestion as he takes us through his key Premier League Stats for Gameweek 1...

*You can check out all of our Premier League Odds & Betting Markets over on betfred.com

Liverpool vs Bournemouth 

Friday, 20:00 

Live on Sky Sports Main Event 

Key stat: With nine goals and five assists, Mohamed Salah has delivered more goal involvements on the opening weekend of an EPL campaign than any other player. 

Suggested bet: The Egyptian maestro may have some new expensive attacking talent alongside him this season, but he remains the key man for the Reds, as these opening day numbers demonstrate.  

You can back Salah at 4/1 to score and assist against a Bournemouth team who look defensively light after the departures of Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi. 

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United 

Saturday, 12:30 

Live on TNT Sports 1 

Key stat: Aston Villa are unbeaten in their last 21 home games in all competitions, with 15 wins and six draws, and have won the last eight in a row. 

Suggested bet: Villa may have just missed out on Champions League qualification to Saturday's opponents but Villa Park has been a fortress under Unai Emery.  

The Midlanders should have enough in the tank to beat a Newcastle side likely to be missing wantaway star Alexander Isak and the 5/4 quote on a home win looks very backable. 

Brighton & Hove Albion vs Fulham

Saturday, 15:00  

Key stat: Brighton have won their opening league match in each of the last four seasons, while Fulham have won their opener in just one of the last eight campaigns 

Suggested bet: These two sides look relatively well matched but Fulham don't do draws - it's 18 games since they had a stalemate - and the Seagulls tend to get off to a flyer, so the hosts are more likely winners.  

With 17 goals in the last five games of last season at the Amex, goals are also on the cards. You can back a home win and over 2.5 goals at 9/5 by using the Bet Builder.   

Sunderland vs West Ham United 

Saturday, 15:00  

Key stat: Jarrod Bowen scored in each of his last four Premier League appearances last campaign. 

Suggested bet: It's hard to call the winner of this one - Sunderland lost their last three home games in the Championship season (play-offs excluded) but it's been an underwhelming transfer window for West Ham so far and they can't be backed with any confidence. 

The one bright light for the Hammers has been the form of Bowen and he can be backed at 15/8 to make it five scoring games in a row.  

Tottenham Hotspur vs Burnley 

Saturday, 15:00 

Key stat: João Palhinha picked up five more yellow cards than anyone else - with an eye-watering total of 27 - across his two seasons at Fulham. 

Suggested bet: With Thomas Frank now in the Spurs dugout, recent team performance stats aren't hugely relevant - but the one thing we do know is that Palhinha, who is likely to make his full debut, will put himself about a bit.  

The midfield enforcer, who is on loan from Bayern Munich, can be backed at 5/2 to pick up his customary yellow.  

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Manchester City 

Saturday, 17:30 

Live on Sky Sports Main Event 

Key stat: Man City have won their opening Premier League game in 13 of the last 14 seasons, while Wolves have lost their opener in each of the last four seasons. 

Suggested bet: Pep Guardiola has been busy in the transfer market - including nabbing Wolves star Rayan Aït-Nouri - and City will surely be much closer to the top of the league this season.  

The visitors should have far too much for a Wolves side reeling from the loss of Aït-Nouri and Matheus Cunha. Pep's men can be backed to win with a one-goal handicap at 11/8.  

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

Sunday, 14:00 

Live on Sky Sports Main Event 

Key stat: Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games against Crystal Palace, with 13 wins and two draws. 

Suggested bet: Palace picked up their second trophy in a matter of weeks with a hard fought Community Shield victory over Liverpool, but the Blues are very much their bogey side and it's hard to look beyond a home win. 

We do know that Oliver Glasner's team will be well-organised, so adding under 3.5 goals to the Chelsea victory using the Bet Builder gives us a nice price of 7/5. 

Nottingham Forest vs Brentford 

Sunday 14:00 

Live on Sky Sports Premier League 

Key stat: Nottingham Forest have won just one of their last eight league games against Brentford, with the Bees unbeaten in their last four visits to the City Ground. 

Suggested bet: Both clubs have had a busy summer off the field, with Forest having one eye on Crystal Palace's legal case over European qualification and Brentford needing to replace Thomas Frank. 

This one looks too close to call with a new man in Keith Andrews in the Bees dugout and given their good form against the Tricky Trees, the draw at 5/2 looks like the best approach. 

Manchester United vs Arsenal 

Sunday, 16:30 

Live on Sky Sports Main Event 

Key stat: Manchester United have lost just two of their last 18 Premier League home games against Arsenal, with 10 wins and six draws. 

Suggested bet: Even when at their lowest ebbs under Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, United always seemed to get up for Arsenal games. 

And with an exciting new frontline of Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all likely to feature, the Old Trafford faithful will be expecting the new season to get off with a bang. With the hosts priced up at a generous 11/4 to win, there is juice in the Home/Draw Double Chance price of 4/5. 

Leeds United vs Everton  

Monday, 20:00 BST 

Live on Sky Sports Main Event 

Key stat: Leeds United's last eight opening league games of the season have seen a total of 39 goals, with 20 scored and 19 conceded.  

Suggested bet: While Leeds will not be as expansive as they were in the Championship, Daniel Farke isn't going to completely change his philosophy and they should be an entertaining watch this season.  

And while David Moyes remains a safety-first manager, Everton were certainly more fluid under his management than in the Sean Dyche reign. Over 2.5 Goals is the bet at 11/10.

Dan Thomas Premier League Stats P&L 2025/26:

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